Vibratory massage device



Maich 18, 1947. J. ELDREDGE ETAL vI BRAToR Y MASSAGE DEVICE F iled Oct. 10,1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS JACK ELDREDG JOSEPH f Nov/7K- J. ELDREDGE ETAL 7,744

VIBRATORY MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Oct. 10, 1945 '2 sheets-sheet 2 March 18, 1947.

Patented Mar. 18, 1947 VIBEATORY MASSAGE DEVICE Jack Eldredge and Joseph F. Novak, Cleveland, Ohio Application October 10, 1945, Serial No. 621,480

3 Claims.

This invention relates to massaging devices, and particularly to manually operable electric apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a portable device of the type stated that may be rolled on the body while it is vibrating.

Another object is to provide such device with a cylinder that may be rolled laterally on the body while it is vibrating longitudinally,

A further object is to provide such device with a small resilient knob that may be made to oscillate longitudinally or axially for special application to sore spots or injured members.

Still another object is to construct a unitary self-contained device of the type stated with a coacting vibratory massaging knob and rotatable and vibrating massaging cylinder.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description and claims, together with the accompanying drawing in which like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the massage device, with portions broken away to show construction;

Figure 2 is a left end view of the device Figure 3 is a right end view thereof;

Figure 4 is another side elevation of the device, with portions broken awa and showing the Vibrator in a first position;

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 and showing certain parts in a second position;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of the Figure 5;

Figure 7 is across-sectional View of a portion of the device, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 1-4 of the Figures 4 and 5; and

Figure 8 is another cross-sectional view of the device, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of the Figure 4.

The device constituting this invention comprises generally four main elements or members. They are the motor member, the case member, the knob member and the oscillating member, broadly indicated by the reference characters l0, 3!], 59 and 66 respectively. Each of these members will be described in detail hereinafter and in the order stated.

The motor member 50 consists of a small compact electric motor H which is mounted inside a frame [2. The electric conductor l I connects the motor II with a power source for its operation. The frame 12 forms a container for the motor and substantially encloses it as shown in the drawings. The left side of the frame I2 has a yoke or bracket-like portion 13 from which there extends a tubular shaft I 4. The shaft 14 terminates with a handle 15 through which there is a longitudinal hole It for the aforesaid conductor H. The yoke IS, the shaft M and handle i5 are suitably threaded internally, as shown, to facilitate assembly but the outer surface of the shaft I4 is smooth and round to enable the hereinafter described ring 3| to rotate and slide thereon.

The right or opposite side of the frame l2 is similarly constructed. That is, it has a bracket or yoke portion 23 thereon which terminates in a shaft 24 and handle 25. The shaft 24 and the handle 25 are also threaded for convenient assembly, and the shaft also has a smooth round outer surface to accommodate the rotatable and slideable ring M which will be described in detail hereinafter. The handle 25 has a longitudinal or axial hole 26 therethrough to receive the oscillating rod 53 of the knob member 56.

The rotor 21 of the motor H is provided with a drum-cam 28, the peripheral surface of which has an eccentric groove 29 therein. This groove 29 receives and guides the cam follower or pin Iii of the oscillating member 60.

The two handles l5 and 25 are substantially aligned and are concentric with the rotor 21 of the motor. They extend longitudinally from both ends of the frame l2.

The case member 30 consists of a fiber cylinder 35. This may be made of plastic, wood, metal or any other suitable material if desired. Both ends of the cylinder are closed with the rings 3| and H The cylinder 35 has internally threaded ends 36 which engage the external threads 34 and 44 of the rings SI and 4| respectively. When the cylinder 35 and the rings 3| and 4| are assembled, they completely enclose and surround the motor, frame and yokes H, I2 and I3 as illustrated.

The left ring 3! has a central or axial opening 32. It has several small air holes 33 therethrough for ventilating the motor II. The inner portion of the ring 3| has a small collar which smoothly but not tightly engages the shaft M so that the ring may rotate around the shaft and slide longitudinally thereon between the yoke l3 and the handle I5.

The right ring 4| also has a central opening 42 and collar thereat which rotates around and slides longitudinally on the shaft 24. It also has 3 vent holes 43 similar to the aforesaid air holes 33.

The right ring 4! differs from the left ring 3! in that it has an internal flange 45 which extends inward and outward from the aforesaid collar. The flange 45 has or forms a groove 45 therearound which receives a rib B4 of the oscillating member 50.

The knob member 59 consists of a rod 53 which fits through and moves within the longitudinal hole 26 of the handle 25. rod 53 has radial arms 54 which extend outward and terminate in small ears 55 as shown, The outer end of the rod 53, the end adjacent to the handle 25, has a small cup or receptacle 5| in which there is mounted a rubber pad or piece of some soft or resilient material.

The oscillating member 66 or cam follower consists of a longitudinal support or movable member, hereinafter referred to and indicated as the bar 53, a pin El and rib 55. The bar 63 is slideably mounted on the frame l2 contiguous to the yoke 23. The pin 61 fits into the eccentric groove 29 of the drum-cam and has a small ring or bearing element 62 thereon which rides the inner walls of the groove to prevent excessive wear during operation.

One end of the bar 63, the end opposite the one having the pin 6i, has the small rib 55 which is engaged by the groove 48 of the case member flange 45. This rib 64 slides circumferentially in the groove and permits the ring 4! to rotate on the shaft 24.

Between the pin 6! and the rib 64, the bar 63 is attached to the ear 55 on the rod 53. The rotation of the drum-cam 28 causes the bar 53 to move longitudinally back and orth.

The bar member being engaged by its rib S4 to the ring 4! causes the cylinder 35 and the two rings 3| and M to oscillate on the shafts M and 24 between the two handles and 25 respectively. While so oscillating, the cylinder and rings may be rolled on the body with beneficial effect. The handles, motor and frame remain substantially stationary and the device is easy to hold and operate.

The bar 63 also being connected to the rod 53 at the ears 55 causes the knob resilient pad to similarly oscillate longitudinally and when so oscillating or vibrating, it may be applied to various joints or members of the body for massaging effect or for gently replacing dislocated bones, stimulating strained ligaments or relieving sore muscles. Obviously many other uses can be found for this novel massaging device.

Having thus disclosed the invention in its preferred form, it should be understood that the device as illustrated and described is illustrative only and is not to be considered in a limited sense. There may well be many other forms of the invention, modifications thereof or ways of The inner end of the constructing or assembling it which also come within the broad scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A vibratory massage device, comprising in combination, a motor member including a cam and a frame portion, the said frame portion having aligned end shafts and handles, a case member surrounding the motor member and having end ring portions slideable and rotatable on the end shafts between the said handles, one of the said end ring portions having a grooved flange thereon, and an oscillating means movably mounted on the frame portion and having a cam follower engageable with the cam and the grooved flange and being capable of vibrating the case member.

2. A vibratory massage device, comprising in combination, a motor member including a drumcam and a frame portion, the said frame portion having handles thereon, a case member mounted on the frame portion and having a grooved flange slideable and rotatable on the said handles, a knob member projecting through one of the handles and having an arm portion thereon, and an oscillating member including a cam follower engageable with the said drum-cam and a rib portion engageable with the grooved flange and being capable of vibrating the case member on the said frame portion, the said oscillating member having a bar portion connected to the said arm portion and being capable of vibrating the knob member through the said handle.

3. A vibratory massage device, comprising in combination, a motor member including a drumcam and a frame portion, the said frame portion having handles thereon, a case member mounted on the frame portion and having a grooved flange slideable and rotatable on the said handles, a knob member having a rod portion projecting through one of the handles and having an arm portion thereon, the said rod portion also having a resilient pad thereon, and an oscillating member including a cam follower engageable with the said drum-cam and a rib portion engageable with the grooved flange and being capable of vibrating the case member on the said frame portion, the said oscillating member having a bar portion connected to the arm portion and being capable of vibrating the resilient pad.

JACK ELDREDGE. JOSEPH F. NOVAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date r 1,895,116 Wilsey Jan. 21, 1933 767,593 Patchen Aug. 16, 1904 1,516,717 Coleman NOV. 25, 1924-. 

